We have evolved into a nation of spenders, far beyond the basic essentials of food, clothing and shelter. Advertising is huge business which taunts us with a desire to acquire stuff, and lots of it. Unfortunately, a subculture of compulsive shoppers has arisen. The shelf life of enjoyment obtained from excessive shopping is short-lived and falls in the category of addiction. The best bang for our buck seems to be in spending our hard-earned cash on enjoyable activities with others that provide lasting memories.

A significant component of conspicuous sonsumption is the "Look at Me" factor. This can be applied to super-expensive cars, boats, clothes, diamonds and just about any worldly goods that will gain the attention and perhaps the admiration of others. For those who are into super-showy, the 88th edition of the Neiman Marcus features outrageously expensive and fantastic items. For sale is an ATV vehicle which operates on land and sea; price tag. $50,000. How about a made-to-order slot car racetrack for $300,000. Watches are a hot item with the Piaget Catalog, featuring the Limelight Gala watch for $32,000. As far as the purchase of super-expensive watches, move over ladies. A lot of men are into this status symbol.

A wonderful lazy, rainy or snowy evening's activity is the perusal of expensive catalogs. This vicarious entertainment can be enjoyed online, but the best way is to have the paper variety. One of my favorite is the Hammacher Schlemmer Catalog which proudly promotes itself as "America's Longest Running Catalog - Offering the Best, the Only and the Unexpected for 167 Years." One can purchase an eight-foot-tall bright yellow inflatable duckie. The description is "bouncing buoyancy that compels wanton water play. The duckie accepts all playmates with (its) voluminous pupiled eyes." It's yours for only $229.95 plus a hefty shipping fee. Move on and you will see a photo of the longest backyard water slide, designed to bring aquatic joy to children and adults alike. The price is $2,800. One of my favorite items is the transparent canoe, with transparent paddles, which has comfortable seating for two. The photo depicts two beautiful people invisibly skimming along blue waters. Hard to resist at $2,500 plus $350 shipping.

Take note while reviewing this catalog of all the positive power words that are used and frequently repeated. Almost on every page, "The Best" will be attached to a product. Other power words used are: the Only, the Perfect, the Superior, the Genuine, the Award Winning, the Authentic and more. It's important to be aware how words, positive and negative, both written and spoken, can significantly impact and influence our emotions and beliefs.

There are less expensive items for the less affluent, items like the Fish Catching RC Boat which is a remote-controlled 17½-inch boat, with pre-rigged tackle. This is for the more relaxed fisherman who wishes to sit leisurely on the shore while the RC vessel trolls for the fish. The ad states that the boat can catch up to a five-pound fish. It doesn't mention what happens if a larger fish is caught. Not bad for $69.98.

For those fans of "Star Wars," there is the Darth Vader toaster. This appliance is made in the scary likeness of the head of that villain, complete with flashing red eyes. Innocent pieces of toast are transformed into "sinister tokens of evil" with "Star Wars" imprinted on each slice. Begin the day with a Galactic Empire breakfast! The price tag is a mere $49.95. I must admit, in a moment of weakness, I did buy one for my son's birthday. He loved it!

(Dr. Donna Pinter is the founder and director of Psychological Services, of Bloomsburg, Danville and Sunbury. "Slice of Life" appears on this page the first Sunday of every month.)

BLOOMSBURG - Abby E. Kulenguskey graduated cum laude from Bloomsburg University May 9 with a degree in early childhood education with a minor in the hearing impaired.

While at Bloomsburg, Kulenguskey participated in the BU Husky Marching Band and Maroon and Gold Concert Band, in which she played flute. She is a member of Tau Beta Sigma national music sorority, serving as chapter president. She is a member of the Trio Upward Bound Alumni Association, in which she served in a variety of capacities.

She is a daughter of Deb Kulenguskey, Samuel Dascani and Todd Kulenguskey. She is a granddaughter of Linda and Bernie Romanoski and the late Pat and Clement Kulenguskey, and a great-granddaughter of Ruth Romanoski and the late Bernie Romanoski Sr.

COAL TOWNSHIP - The honor roll for the fourth marking period has been announced for Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School.

Distinguished honors

Seniors - Jessica Delong, Dakota Maneval and Grace Rompolski.

Juniors - Cage Crissman, Kendal Krebs, Maya Khanna and Emily Troutman.

Sophomores - Carmella Bickel, Olivia Giles, Tanner Maneval and Angelica Masser.

Freshmen - Emma Gownley, John-Daniel Kerris, Maria Nguyen, Carmine Picarelli, Nora Rompolski and Dawson Williams.

Eighth-grade - Frances Czeponis, Charles Keer, Madison Munson, Christopher Stewart and Hailey Swaldi.

Seventh-grade - Alison Barvitskie, Mackenzie Catino, Abigail Doss, Anna Gownley, Kolbi Krebs, Caitlin Shulski and Ethan Sten.

First honors

Seniors - William Allen, Caitlin Funk, Erich Meloy, Regina Perez, Mikayla Persing and Bailey Trell.

Juniors - Nicholas Adams, Taylor Bozza, Kristen Komara, Tommy Nguyen, Kayleigh Shovlin and Maya Yoder.

Sophomores - Elizabeth Alexander, Kelsey Conner, Brooke Korkuch, Shaylee Miller, John Nguyen and Zackary Zarkowski.

Freshmen - Selina Albert, Alesha Rutledge and Zackery Smith.

Eighth-grade - Giavanna Candelora, Emily DeManicor, Ty Klembara, Olivia McGinley, Mary Richardson, Elizabeth Ross, Thomas Schultz, Jared Stewart and Lillian Yuschock.

Seventh-grade - Hanna Bozza, Krystof Lapotsky and Leanna Nguyen.

Second honors

Juniors - Celine Jones, Erika Kapushinski, Nicole Komara and Brittney Lahr.

Sophomores - Michael Anzulavich, Charles Aurand, Lawrence Czeponis, Cherisse Kulik and Jarrid Todd.

Freshmen - Stephen Gresh, Amanda Horan, Phillip Hutnick-Kenenitz and Karen Martinez.

Eighth-grade - Lilyauna Bickel, Sierra Coleman, Cydney Crissman, Michael Czarnecki, Connor Fenix, Jenna Jerdon, Riley Kieffer, Channing Maneval, Ryan Mirarchi, Elizabeth Nguyen, Gianna Picarelli, Cassidy Shovlin and Behret Steinbauer.

Seventh-grade - Peter Long and Briana Tamborelli.

Firework shows in Shamokin and Mount Carmel Saturday evening featured an assortment of shells that exploded into a variety of colors and shapes, much to the

satisfaction of thousands of spectators who look forward to the annual events.

As usual, "oohs" and "ahhs" were the common responses after viewing fireworks shot from culm banks high above Shamokin and Mount Carmel. Most people watched the shows from sidewalks and public places, while some of the most adventurous located high vantage points in the mountains and hills overlooking the towns.

In Shamokin, the annual display shot from the Glen Burn Bank was sponsored by Citizens for a Better Community and Citizens Fireworks Inc. It featured more than 1,200 shells of varying size, ranging from 2½ to 10 inches in diameter. Applause followed the end of the display, which was capped off with an "atomic bomb fireball" and a barrage of more than 750 shells.

Rachel Kerstetter and Rhaeghan Henz, members of the Shamokin Area junior high football cheerleading squad, were two of the many volunteers who made Shamokin's show possible. Kerstetter and Hent, along with other members of the squad, took one-hour shifts collecting donations on Second Street. Other volunteers manned collection sites on Route 61 near the Cameron Bridge and Pool World.

In Mount Carmel, several 10-inch shells illuminated the night sky during the display, which was sponsored by Clover Hose Company. The fireworks were shot from Wilburton Mountain, north of Mount Carmel.

Earlier in day, volunteers from Clover Hose were busy cooking food and manning concession stands at a block party next to the station. Meanwhile, members from Pa. Pyro Artists and High Volume Pyro worked through a light mist to prepare for the show.

Workers placing mortar tubes said they were initially concerned about the rain that moved through the morning, but knew the show would go on once the moderate rain turned to showers.

"We have done displays in the rain before," one worker said. "This mist won't affect anything."

The Venus-Jupiter conjunction show continues in the low western sky in the early evening, and I sure hope you've enjoyed it. The best planet celestial hugging has started its slow parting of the ways, but the two worlds will still be within shouting distance of each other the rest of the month.

Meanwhile, another planet is visible in the southern skies, and in my opinion, is one of the best sites you can see through a telescope, even a smaller scope. As I told you last month, these are the good times and the bad times for observing Saturn. At just over 850 million miles away, it's still fairly close to its minimum distance from Earth for 2015.

Another thing in Saturn's favor is the tilt of Saturn's ring system. It's nearly at its maximum angle to our line of sight, making it really visible to us. In fact, most of the light that you see when you glance at Saturn with the naked eye is sunlight reflecting off all the ice in Saturn's rings that, by the way, are only about 50 feet thick.

The downer about telescoping Saturn this year is that because of where it is among the backdrop of stars it never gets all that far above the horizon. When evening twilight is over, look for the brightest star-like object you can see in low southern sky and that will be Saturn. Unfortunately, that's about as high as it gets. At that height above the horizon, Earth's atmosphere is thicker and has a definite blurring effect, especially with the higher humidity of summertime and strong upper atmosphere winds. The ringed wonder of our solar system is still a great telescope destination.

The best advice I can give you for viewing Saturn through a telescope is to take long continuous views and hope that you'll catch a more transparent patch of sky coming through. Long looks also give your eye more time to adjust to the light level in your eyepiece field of view and allow you to see more detail. Along with details on Saturn itself, you should be able to see some of it's many moons that resemble tiny stars.

Saturn doesn't have another planet near it in the low southern heavens, but it does have some very intriguing company. It's in the faint constellation Libra the Scales. The constellation is supposed to depict the scales of Roman justice, a symbol of justice still used today. Like most constellations, though, it's a tremendous stretch turning that collection of mainly faint stars into a Roman scale. Libra does have a couple of brighter stars that are most interesting for their names. They are Zubenelgenubi, pronounced zoo-ben-el-je-new-bee, and Zubeneschamali, pronounced zuba-nesh-a-molly. These two mouthful-for-a-name stars are the next brightest shiners to the right of Saturn.

These tough tongue-twisting names are Arabic and translate in English to the south claw and northern claw, respectively. What do "claw" stars have to do with a Roman scale? Absolutely nothing. As it turns out the constellation Libra was invented by the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar. Originally, the stars that make up Libra were once upon a time part of the neighboring constellation to the left, Scorpius the Scorpion. Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali used to mark the claws of the great constellation Scorpius the Scorpion. One day, Caesar just decided to hack the claws off Scorpius and made the "Z" stars and few others around them into the new constellation Libra the Scales. Caesar had that kind of power. That's why I say that this summer, Saturn is in the clutches of a giant celestial scorpion.

Unlike Libra, Scorpius is one of the few constellations that truly resembles what its supposed to be. Its brightest star Antares is the next brightest object to the lower left of Saturn and marks the heart of the Scorpion. If you have an unobstructed view of the southern horizon, you can really see the tail of Scorpius. Incidentally, you can't help but notice Antares has a ruddy appearance to it. That's because it's what astronomers call a super red giant star, or a swelled-up older star. One day, it will explode into a colossal supernova explosion. Antares is possibly well over 600 million miles in diameter. By comparison, our sun is less than a million miles in diameter. In fact, this behemoth star is so large that if you were to put Antares in our solar system in place of our sun, the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and even Jupiter would lie inside of it. Our world would experience the ultimate in global warming.

In that case, Saturn would be the closest planet to Antares, but it wouldn't look the same. The ice in the rings would be gone, as well most of the gas hydrogen and helium gas of the planet.

Let's keep our humble little sun just where it is.

Celestial hugging

Venus and Jupiter are starting to separate in the western skies, but they're still hanging close together. At the start of this week, they're less than three degrees apart. They're the brightest star like object in the early evening sky.

(Lynch is an amateur astronomer and author of the book, "Stars, a Month by Month Tour of the Constellations." Contact him at mikewlynch@comcast.net.)

LEESPORT - William C. Bray Jr., of Kulpmont, formerly of Shamokin, graduated June 24 from the commercial driver's license training school of continuing education at the West Campus training facility at Berks Career and Technology Center.

He received his diploma and class A commercial driver's license with tanker endorsement.

Divorces

Robert L. Faust Jr., 1280 Mahantango Creek Road, Dalmatia, from Brandy M. Faust, 5204 State Route 147, Dalmatia. Married Oct. 25, 1997.

Melinda M. Shingara, 715 Mahanoy St., Trevorton, from Albert Shingara Jr., 108 Miller Hill, Shamokin. Married Sept. 7, 2002.

Marriage licenses

Scott Charles Kerr to Margaret Ann Pheasant, both of 2 Horne Drive, Elysburg. Issued July 3, 2015.

Brian Michael Carnuccio to Ashley Marie Roble, both 220 S. Gage St., Mount Carmel. To be issued July 6, 2015.

Robert Joseph Gusick, 301 S. Vine St., Shamokin, to Dawn Marie Stiely, 434 Main St., Coal Township. To be issued July 6, 2015.

Gattlin James Myers to Katelyn Elizabeth Snyder, both of 649 W. Coal St., Trevorton. To be issued July 6, 2015.

Property transfers

Vinny Clausi, Deborah Clausi, to GHK Properties Inc., property in Ralpho Township, $450,000.

Gene H. Bordner to Gene H. Bordner, Daniel L. Bordner, property in West Cameron Township, $1.

Robin D. Snyder, (by agent), Craig A. Snyder (agent), Darvin A. Snyder, to Curtis Shrawder, property in Lower Mahanoy Township, $1.

Corin L. Klingman, Corin L. Stansfield, Joshua S. Stansfield, to Kristoffer J. Bower, Ashlee R. Bower, property to Rockefeller Township, $279,000.

Jerri D. Hand, Jacqueline Hand, to Mark J. Morgan, Sherry L. Morgan, property in Lower Augusta Township, $1.

Temcase Realty LLC to Steven T. Renn, property in Upper Augusta Township, $45,000.

Jeffrey M. Bogovich to Jeffrey M. Bogovich, Jennifer L. Spears, property in Mount Carmel Township, $1.

Northumberland County Sheriff, Ray M. Hancock Jr., to FNB Bank NA, property in Coal Township, $2,438.45.

Northumberland County Sheriff, Gary A. Mordan, to Federal National Mortgage Association, property in Rush Township, $1,019.76.

Northumberland County Sheriff, Susan F. Zanella, to FNB Bank NA, property in Mount Carmel, $2,272.72.

Northumberland County Sheriff, Tonia Brosius, to Rose Land and Finance Company, property in Shamokin, $2,056.39.

Ruth E. Trometter (by agent), Jane R. Gaw (agent), Judy C. Wetzel (agent), to Alan D. Walter, property in Herndon, $1.

Richard A. Thiroway, Sherry A. Thiroway, Terry L. Vesnefskie, Ann N. Vesnefskie, to Christopher M. Ward, property in Shamokin, $1.

Timothy Dale Masser, Joyce Romaine Masser, to Ricky E. Schadel, Susan E. Schadel, property in Upper Mahanoy Township, $1.

Timothy D. Masser, Joyce R. Masser, to Jeffrey C. Masser, property in Upper Mahanoy Township, $750,000.

Timothy D. Masser, Joyce R. Masser, to Michael D. Masser, property in Upper Mahanoy Township, $1.

Lawrence R. Hare, Vickie A. Hare, to Lawrence R. Hare, property in Rush Township, $1.

Line Mountain School District, Steven L. Tressler, Llody E. Tressler, Karen S. Wiestling, Keith R. Tressler, to Connie L. Tressler, property in Jackson Township, $1,000.

Theodore B. Zimmerman, Nancy C. Zimmerman, to Randall J. Glick, Lucy Dawn Glick, property in Upper Augusta Township, $1.

Ryan H. Traynor, Maki K. Traynor, to Christopher H. Arbogast, property in Rush Township, $1.

Nicole L. Moyle to Brian S. Nevius, property in Kulpmont, $45,500.

Rosa J. Hernandez (by agent), Juan Ramos (agent), to Lurena McCloskey, property in Shamokin, $15,500.

Maxwell Shingara, Megan Shingara, to Jacob Bowen Shingara, property in Little Mahanoy Township, $57,000.

Paula A. Gebhard, Paula Gebhard, Ruediger Gebhard, to Hope Scheetz, Charles E. Munson, property in Coal Township, $129,900.

Isadore Poliniak, Nancy Poliniak, to James Pitcher Jr., Ashley L. Pitcher, property in Coal Township, $47,900.

Denise M. Wert, Kim M. Kenee, to Peter B. Cortelyou, Catherine S. Cortelyou, property in Jackson Township, $31,000.

Marsha M. Morgan, Harold G. Morgan, to Melissa Reed, property in Mount Carmel, $20,000.

Bethany Bible Fellowship Church to Barbara A. Osborne, property in Mount Carmel, $20,000.

Fen Fang Lin to Jl Yang, property in Mount Carmel, $5,000.

William J. Maher, Barbara A. Maher, to William J. Maher, property in Shamokin, $1.

Jessica M. Alderson, Jessica M. Bower, Jason Bower, to Ronald E. Ryan, Joan A. Ryan, property in Mount Carmel, $51,000.

Robert Krakowski to 500 Fifth Street LLC, property in Mount Carmel, $136,500.

Barry C. Lentz, Alysia Lentz, to Eric R. McAndrew, property in Coal Township, $74,900.

Randy F. Osman, Chloe E. Osman, to Randy F. Osman, Chloe E. Osman, property in Rockefeller Township, $1.

Emily Strausser to Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company LLC, property in Ralpho Township, $101,000.

JR&R LLC to James S. Drotar, Monique L. Drotar, property in Shamokin Township, $1.

Jean Tambone to Donna K. Snyder, property in Kulpmont, $1.

Cynthia Elliott (executrix), Margaret M. Shinskie (estate), Timothy Elliott Sr., to Margaret L. Vrona, John Vrona, property in East Cameron Township, $1,000.

Kevin D. Kearney, Kara A. Kearney, to Ruth Landthaler, property in Ralpho Township, $1.

Constance M. Martini (estate), Gilbert R. Martini Jr. (executor), to Andrew J. Bower, Michelle E. Bower, property in Ralpho Township, $11,000.

Mark D. Moyer, Kimberly R. Moyer, to Kimberly R. Moyer, property in Shamokin, $1.

Vincent Gratti, Maria Gratti, to John D. Leshock, property in Shamokin, $5,000.

Irene A. Bradley, Brian J. Bradley, to Richard J. Christiana Jr., Mary A. Christiana, property in Shamokin, $25,000.

Line Mountain transportation notice

MANDATA - Bus changes are in effect for the 2015-16 school year for the Line Mountain School District.

If a child's address or address of a sitter has changed or the child will need a different bus stop than last year, parents are asked to notify the transportation office immediately. Changes requested late in August may not take effect until after the school year starts.

Requests may be made by calling the transportation office at 570-758-2645, extension 6018.

Ta-Ta Trot set

SELINSGROVE - The sixth annual Ta-Ta Trot, a 5K run/walk, will be held 8:30 a.m. Saturday, July 11, at Selinsgrove Area High School, 500 N. Broad St. The event will benefit Evangelical's Thyra M. Humphreys Center for Breast Health, Geisinger's Marie Lamey Fund and Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.

Pre-registration is open until midnight Sunday. A donation of $25 for teens and adults and $15 for kids is required for participation. Weekend of registration, which will be held in the high school cafeteria, increases to $30 and $20 respectively. Official Ta-Ta Trot merchandise, including performance T-shirts at $15 and Pink Ribbon Recognition signs honoring cancer survivors for $10 each, will be sold. Packets can be picked up in the cafeteria from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 10, and from 6:30 to 8:15 a.m. Saturday, July 11. Opening ceremonies kick off at 7:30 a.m.

Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place runners in various age and gender categories and to the overall male and female runners. Master's awards are planned. Team awards will be given for the most money raised, most money raised per team member, most trotters and best dressed.

Annually, I present about 150 antique appraisal shows throughout the United States. My appraisal events empower folks with information that they can use when cleaning out their homes, downsizing, handing down family heirlooms or visiting estate and yard sales. The appraisal events - serve as fun-filled evenings to show clients appreciation, opportunities to attract clients to businesses or trade show events, festival or fair entertainment, highlight design trends at home and garden shows or women's expos, or charity fundraisers - are as interesting as they are amusing.

Some recent shows:

Reno, Nev.: An Alfred Blakelock painting, whose works are in the Brooklyn Museum and the Corcoran Gallery, was brought to my event by a gentleman whose grandfather received the painting in payment of a debt during the Great Depression. The painting has been displayed in his home ever since. I told the owner at my event that his Romantic landscape painting by Blakelock is now worth $30,000

Hartville, Ohio: A couple married 35 years brought an early 1900s Native American leather, wood and beadwork baby papoose to my event. When I asked the wife if anyone in her family was Native American, she said "No." Her husband seated next to her interrupted, "Hello, I am Cheyenne!" He was just as shocked by his wife's ignorance of their family history as he was by the antique's value: $10,000

Virginia Beach, Va.: A hand-drawn World War II map of Europe documenting the sites where the 42nd Rainbow Infantry Division served was brought to me by Andrea whose father served with the famous military division. They were the American military division that liberated the Dachau concentration camp April 29, 1945. Her colorful map and a yearbook of photos documenting the 42nd Rainbow's service are treasured family keepsakes. Value: $5,000

Grand Island, Neb.: Tanner, age 5, brought his grandmother's 1930s era Bakelite pin in the shape of a squirrel to my event for an appraisal. Tanner told me it was ok for a boy to wear this pin because squirrels are scary animals. The not so scary value of that piece of costume jewelry was $275

Fort Wayne, Ind.: A pair of beaded moccasins, in mint condition, had been in the owner's family for generations and lovingly stored with tissue paper out of direct sunlight for years.

She was told to take care of them and she did. Value: $4,000

Atlanta: Charles brought a Freemason's apron that was hand-made by the wife of one of his relatives who served in the Civil War. Decorated with the famous symbols of the secret society, the antique was said to have saved the family from certain death as it hung in a front window during the burning of Atlanta. Historical value: Priceless

The Villages, Fla.: A 1947 New York Yankees/St. Louis Cardinals World Series ring featuring 14 karat gold and diamonds owned by a series umpire. The owner/umpire was in his 90s when I appraised the ring recently, and he was still cool under pressure. He didn't move a muscle when I appraised it for $20,000.

Greensboro, N.C.: The granddaughter of a man who made a pass at Margaret Mitchell in the summer of 1936 while the author was selling her books on an Atlanta sidewalk brought a signed first edition copy of "Gone with the Wind" to my event. She retold the story of how her grandfather, though rejected by Mitchell, bought the famous Civil War novel from the author. That first-edition book had it all: a famous story, great condition, original cover, autograph and impeccable provenance. Value: $60,000

(Dr. Lori Verderame is an antiques appraiser and nationally syndicated columnist and author who presents antique appraisal events to worldwide audiences. Visit www.DrLoriV.com. Follow Dr. Lori on www.Facebook.com/DoctorLori or call 888-431-1010.)

ELYSBURG - The rain outside didn't dampen the spirits of the faithful congregation inside Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church Saturday who gathered to celebrate the golden jubilee of All Saints Cemetery in Bear Gap.

The Most Rev. Ronald W. Gainer, Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, was the main celebrant and homilist for the commemorative Mass that was moved from the cemetery to the church due to inclement weather.

Gainer talked about the history of the cemetery that was dedicated by Msgr. Francis Conrad of Danville July 4, 1965, and the tireless planning and work that went into providing a Catholic burial place in the Elysburg area.

"Today, we rejoice in the birth of our nation and the beginning of All Saints Cemetery," the bishop said. He referred to the 50-year-old cemetery as a "beautiful, sacred place" where many loved ones are buried.

Gainer said cemetery comes from the Greek word dormitory, which means a place of rest or sleep over.

"All the loved ones are resting in the sleep of death preparing for their own resurrection and second coming of Jesus," he said.

He said cemeteries contain many signs of faith and hope and thanked all the past and present managers and staff of the burial grounds for their outstanding efforts in maintaining All Saints Cemetery for 50 years.

He praised the efforts of everyone involved in organizing the special anniversary celebration and particularly commended present cemetery manager Kevin Shervinskie and the Rev. Gerard Heintzelman, a diocesan priest for 56 years who was instrumental in developing the cemetery and planning the anniversary liturgy.

Heintzelman, a native of Sunbury who resides in Maria Hall in Danville, called the celebration "magnificent" and was grateful to be able to participate.

Heintzelman and the Rev. William Sullivan, whose mother, Julia (Burke) Sullivan, of Mount Carmel, was the first person buried at All Saints Cemetery May 29, 1964, were recognized by the bishop for their dedication to the cemetery and Catholic faith.

Sullivan, who also was in attendance, is in residency at St. Joseph Church, Mechanicsburg.

Heintzelman, Sullivan, Deacons Martin McCarthy and Robert Mack were among a dozen clergy who concelebrated the Mass with the bishop.

At the end of Mass, Heintzelman announced flowers will be placed on the graves of Julia Sullivan and William Schott, who served as the first manager at All Saints Cemetery from 1965 to 1990.

Schott's two daughters, Helen (Schott) Lawson and Nancy (Schott) Karchner, and son-in-law, Jim Lawson, presented the offertory gifts at Mass.

Shervinskie, a well-known, longtime funeral director who took over as cemetery manager in 2012, thanked his entire staff, the bishop, other clergy and everyone who attended and helped organize the special anniversary celebration.

"It was a lot of work, but we received outstanding support from everyone," Shervinskie said. "It was a pleasure having the bishop celebrate the Mass and members of William Schott's family participating. I also want to especially thank Father Heintzelman for his great help in organizing the anniversary."

Shervinskie commended the Rev. Joseph Scanlin, newly appointed pastor of Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church, who offered the church as the setting for the anniversary Mass when Mother Nature prevented the ceremonies from being held at the cemetery.

Shervinskie, who was expecting approximately 300 people, said the weather definitely hampered attendance, but he was still grateful for the nice turnout.

Shervinskie and Michael Rugalla Jr., who served as cemetery manager from 1997 to 2012, provided scripture readings. Mack proclaimed the Gospel. McCarthy recited the intercessions.

Erik and Jennifer Seidel from Mother Cabrini Church in Shakokin provided musical selections, and students from Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School were altar servers.

Fourth-degree members of the Knights of Columbus served as an honor guard, and Michael White provided floral arrangements.

Wayne Dancho, who served as cemetery manager from 1990 to 1997, and past and present maintenance employees Carl Yarsky, Ted Kulakoski, Al Shannon, Ed Thomas, David Tressler and Jason Dinklocker also were recognized.

The development of the cemetery began in 1952. In addition to its dedication in 1965, other milestones include the installation of Italian granite Stations of the Cross in the summer of 1966, a bronze shrine of the Resurrected Christ in the winter of 1970, a 40-crypt mausoleum topped by a 40-foot cross in 1979, a 64-crypt garden mausoleum in 1995, an additional 64 crypts and 36 cremation niches in 2004, and a 48-inch columbarium in 2009.

Plans are underway for the installation of a 60-crypt mausoleum and 48 cremation niches that are scheduled to be completed this fall.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin Area Middle/High School announced its honor roll for fourth marking period.

Seventh grade, distinguished honors: Lily Avans, Margaret Bowers, Gabriel Burns, Morgan Clemens, Violet Dales, Raven Depeal, Joshua Dombrowski, Diamond Donohue, Kaitlyn Dunn, Holly Fegley, Madison Foulds, Tate Frederick, Nathan Grimes, Blake Hartzel, Leslie Haupt, Rhaeghan Henz, Destiny Jones, Caycee Kalinoski, Hunter Kerstetter, Farrah Krum, Janet Kulish, Emma Laughlin, Cherie Martin, Sheyenne Moore, Wolfgang Pearson, Ashley Ponatoski, Hunter Rodarmel, Abby Rodman, Sophie Rossnock, Jasmine Scandle, Angelina Schaeffer, Isibelle Sienkiewicz, Emily Slanina, Jasmine Slodysko, Molly Stevens, Myah Thompson, Cheyanne Wolf, Shen Yeager and Katelyn Zawalick.

Seventh grade, regular honors: Jacob Alvord, Bryce Anderson, Paige Campbell, John Carl III, Abigail Charriez, Abbey Diorio, Conirae Duncan, Deven Elliott, Allie Godfrey, Brycen James, Blake Kane, Devin Kays, Kirstyn Kehler, Rachel Kerstetter, Amber Klinger, Kaylee Koshinski, Sarah Kratzer, Alexandria Madison, Blake Markowski, Kevin Markowski, Tori Moser, Andrew Nelson, Nathan Persing, Kyra Sanders, Rachel Shader, Telaysia Shafer, Austin Straub, Emma Tomcavage, Jonathan Washuta, Logan Williams and Megan Wywadis.

Eighth grade, distinguished honors: Sarah Bainbridge, Spencer Balonis, Colby Bixler, Aidan Blackwell, Marshall Buggy, Sierra Burd, Steven Carpenter, Gavin Clattenburg, Juliana DeGreen, John Delorso, Lydia Deptula, Alyvia Erb, Jeffrey Fuernisen Jr., Mackenzie Glosek, Mara Hashuga, Teagan Heath, Taylor Kashner, Timothy Kile, Jayla Klase, Chloe Kramer, Jameson Kramer, Cordell Lucas, Joseph Masser, Abigail Nye, Jessa Paczkoski, Autumn Purcell, Robert Rebuck, Lake Rodarmel, Quinn Rollman, Destiny Sassani, Joan Schaeffer, Andrea Segura, Peyton Shurock, Mason Smink, Brooke Strausser, Abigail Thew, Skylar Truchon, John Wagner, Lauren Wagner, Payton Whary, Valerie Yost, Clif Zheng and Zoe Zimmerman.

Eighth grade, regular honors: Aaron Adams, Melania Amato, Emily Backes, Alexis Barnes, Sarah Baumeister, Ashley Beach, Mariah Benedict, Jared Berkheimer, Bethany Bordell, Karrie Bower, Alyssa Charriez, Madison Collins, Chloe Dales, Piper Ditzel, Lauren Drumheiser, Sabian Ebersole, Jacob Eschbach III, Rebekah Faust, Aubree Haight, Zoey Hockenbroch, Barbara Jemmott, Collin Kern, Deven Klock, Joshua Mackenzie, Ferdinand Madara, Caitlin Madison, Morgan McGinn, Bryce Mummey, Garrett Sassani, Matthew Schiccatano, Matthew Swartz, Jose Tejada, Ethan Tharp, Jacob Thompson, Richard Wright III, Eric Zakareskie and Blake Zalar.

Ninth grade, distinguished honors: Abagail Blass, Kalei Bogetti, Michael Breslin, Alexandra Campbell, Trent Curcie, Madison Daya, Anna Delbaugh, Kelsee Dunn, Katlyn Ehman, Maryssa Erdman, Summer Finkelstein, Abbi Fiorey, Kira Golden, Mackenzie Hasuga, Jacob Jeremiah, Nicholas Kirkner, Dharma Koser, Emma Mangiaruga, Mckenna Markowski, Sadie Miller, Kamilyah Nazih, Joseph Olah, Madison Pancher, Colton Pollock, Cameron Popiel, Kali Rebuck, Heather Reigle, Cameron Scandle, Keyona Shoff, Stephen Smith, Jadyn Snyder, Elizabeth Stevens, Ciara Tharp, Brianna Wary, Dakota Zimmerman and Cheyenne Zulkowski.

Ninth grade, regular honors: Jane Adams, Elizabeth Barak, Teann Beck, Kiara Bonshock, Jacob Carpenter, Emma Clark, Madison Clauser, Sky Clontz, Marcus Deivert, Charles Diehl, Matthew Dimmick, Justin Duganitz, Masooma Fatima, Kiera Griffiths, Kendra Haight, Brooke Hovenstine, Dariah Korbich, Patrick Latsha, Ethan Lawton, Kayla Martins, Kaile Pancher, Bryan Sakalosky, Kayla Shaffer, Wanda Sulouff, Paige Swank, Jasmine Wasilewski, Mackenzie Young, Daniel Zaborny and George Zalar.

10th grade, distinguished honors: Zachary Anascavage, Kayla Baney, Madison Blackwell, Scarlett Brown, Carl Claussen, Emilee Dunn, Cierra Eby, Thomas Eby, Aleea Faus, Amy Frasch, Brandi Hatzel, Lindsey Miller, Kiara Moore, Alaina Pearson, Anne Richardson, Madison Rodarmel, Kaitlyn Schrader, Gabrielle Velez and Aleksandr Washuta.

10th grade, regular honors: Desserae Allen, Guenivere Angstadt, Breanna Bickert, Alex Black, Patrick Bradigan, Cheyenne Burasz, Elena Calderin, Brittany Dascani, Samuel Deptula, Daniel Devine, Francis Doncheski, Cody Donohue, Zachary Druckenmiller, Briana Erdman, Cameron Fenix, Cameron Jacoby, Mackenzie Koharski, Jenai McKeen, Kiara Neidig, Carson Quinn, Anthony Roughton, Julianna Shuman, Ellen Spotts, Lauren Stanchick, Brianna Stanke, Samantha Startzel, Kelsie Stewart, Matthew Vrona, Caitlin Ward, David Wolfe, Brittany Wondoloski, Paige Wormald and Desirae Zagata.

11th grade, distinguished honors: Michael Britton, Sierra Colross, Caleigh Corrigan, Jeannette Costa, Justin Deutsch, Jacob Dirienzo, Brady Haupt, Russel Henz Jr., Andrew Jones, Kyle Kauffman, Emily McDevitt, Brayson Pawelczyk, Sofia Pearson, Christopher Petraskie, Brett Rebuck, Isaiah Reiprich, Ivy Savidge, Paige Sherman, Christina Troutman and Cameron Wayne.

11th grade, regular honors: Jensen Bordell, Kyran Brown, Logan Bulchie, Thomas Campbell, Patricia Clark, Cheyenne Collier, Claudia Collins, Autumn Craft, Alexander Cryts, Kyle DiOrio, Gabrielle Erb, Haley Erb, Michelle Fellin, Lillie Fidelman, Ryan Gass, Ronald Gurba, Kenneth Harper, Tahzeeb Hasnain, Jessica James, Ryan Kelly, Alexander Kiefer, Evelyn Madrak, Travis Nelson, Kelsey Rogers, Garrett Ruch, Tamara Sassani, Kayla Schell, Amanda Stanchick, Cole Supsic, Sarah Thomson, Alissa Troutman, Rebecca Wargo and Jakob Weaver.

12th grade, distinguished honors: Tara Blom, Michelle Bressi, Jill Britton, Tyler Candelora, Samantha Carpenter, Jasmine Coleman, Megan Dimmick, Draven Faus, Tevin Gonzalez, Bridgette Hine, Darian Jones, Elizabeth Kapushinski, Megan Kerstetter, Zachary Koharski, Kathryn Madara, Kayla Marchetti, Brianna Martin, Rhiannon McKinney, Josiah Miller, Casey Nye, Joshua Rosini Jr., Graeme Shappell, Amber Smith, Sara Snyder, Kiersten Stasko, Feliph Taylor, Taylor Tobias, Jenna Wasarhelyi, Jarrett Willis and Casey Wilson.

12th grade, regular honors: Jacquelyn Augustitus, Alek Bonshock, Brandon Brida, John Brown, Richard Brown, Cole Fegley, Jesse Feudale Jr., Tyler Forbes, Kendall Forney, Jacob Gallagher, Chyna Haley, Carson Houser, John Kiracofe V, Kody Kroeschel, Ronald Laniewski III, Brett Long, Beth Lytle, Brittany Madison, Roman Marshall III, Christopher McCabe, Mitchell McGinn, Nicholas McWilliams, Brianna Moore, Zachary Moyer, Carley Nash, Shaylee Pesarchick, Rachel Poplaski, Paul Quincy Jr., Sara Rozinski, Daniel Searls, Dylan Sherman, Teya Smeal, Jacob Snyder, Michaela Snyder, Taylor Steinhart, Eric Weikel, Tucker Yost and Cierra Zimmerman.

He didn't talk much about what he saw overseas and when he died, loved ones thought his memories went with him.

Family knew him as "Dad" or "Pap-Pap" but those fighting with the Allied powers in World War II knew him as Sgt. Frank Skokoski, who served with the Office of Strategic Services, which would eventually become the Central Intelligence Agency.

Skokoski served in several missions with the group as countries fought to end Nazi control in Europe but until a recent story was published in a military journal, his family was unsure of the details of his WWII experience.

Skokoski's story is featured in "Veritas: Journal of Army Special Operations History," in a story titled "Skokoski's Journey: Service in Three WWII Special Operations Units," by Troy J. Sacquety. Based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Veritas' readership is made up of current officers and veterans, Sacquety, a 10-year researcher and writer with the journal, said. The journal's main focus is to teach current soldiers about military history and it's available primarily through subscription and at some libraries.

Sacquety interviewed Skokoski Oct. 28, 2008, and Skokoski has since passed away, not able to see the final product, but his family believes that's the way he would want it anyway.

He was proud to serve his country but also humble about his experiences.

His son and namesake Frank Skokoski Jr. said his dad would talk - albeit briefly - about his service, telling him that he blew up bridges in Europe and parachuted as part of his service. He also said he threw away military-issued cyanide pills in the coal stripping pits by his home in Crystal Ridge after returning from the war.

Other than those few stories and clues from memorabilia, the family, up until the journal story was published, didn't know the details of their father's young life in the military.

"He was a hero. He is my dad. He is a hero regardless of what he did because of what he taught me throughout my life, but he really impressed that he didn't think it was something to glorify (his military service)," Skokoski Jr. said. He said all his dad would really convey was that he was just doing his job.

Memories

Born in 1924 in the Hazleton area, the majority of his life spanned a half-mile radius, having lived in the Green Ridge and Crystal Ridge sections of Hazle Township. At home, Skokoski Sr. spoke in his parent's native Polish, although he conversed in English elsewhere and those bilingual skills would advance him to the OSS missions later in life.

He enlisted in the Army after graduating high school in 1942 and was first a medic in the 79th Infantry Division before joining the 541st Parachute Infantry Regiment at Camp Mackall, North Carolina, and left the 541st in 1944 and was sent to Ireland as an airborne replacement, the story states.

It was there OSS recruiters asked him to join them behind the lines after finding out he spoke Polish, Sacquety wrote. Upon being questioned in London, Skokoski Sr. was an OSS member.

"They took us to London where a whole bunch of [uniformed] English and Polish officers questioned you," the story quotes Skokoski Sr. as saying.

They needed Polish speakers to perform a mission under the BARDSEA Project, according to the story. The OSS, the then-exiled Polish government and the British all played roles in the project that aimed to organize Polish people living in France into resistance groups.

The OSS BARDSEA group was made up of three five-man groups and Skokoski Sr. was assigned to a group called DACHET, Saquety said. The men were trained in demolition, communication, German weapons, French geography, compass and map reading, Morse code and parachuting.

But his team never deployed, reportedly due to the Allied armies' advancement in France, although Skokoski Sr. said the mission was stopped because of a hard rain, according to the journal. Sacquety wrote that his mission was called off four hours before its launch in September 1944.

Skokoski Sr. and most of his fellow BARDSEA operatives were transferred to the Operational Groups Branch, which functioned within the OSS and served as a separate uniformed military group. They were active in combat operations in German-occupied France.

Skokoski Sr. was among the OGs who parachuted into France on Sept. 9, 1944. German forces were losing their hold on the country and ADRIAN was poised to target the retreating enemy, preventing their escape, the story states.

Skokoski Sr. and 31 members of the OG team boarded seven B-24 Liberator bombers and were dropped in the Côte d'Or area but a war death occurred before their feet hit the ground. ADRIAN commanding officer Capt. Joseph J. Kielbowicz, who was the first out of the bomber, was killed by a falling mortar canister, mid-air, the story states.

Mortars exploded and caught the container and his parachute on fire and three others were injured. However, the group went on to fulfill its mission and once it was completed, Skokoski Sr. became part of the Special Allied Airborne Reconnaissance Force, a relief effort to protect Allied prisoners of war in German camps.

They were to parachute near prisoner-of-war camps, Sacquety wrote, then radio for medical and nutritional needs for them. But their services were again not needed and Skokoski Sr. was not deployed.

Finding the story

Sacquety found out about Skokoski Sr.'s service through a network of other OSS researchers. Having already planned a trip to Philadelphia in October 2008 for another research piece on an OSS service member, Sacquety set up his interview with Skokoski Sr., driving the roughly two-hour trip to his home from Philadelphia in a snowstorm.

His interview with Skokoski Sr. turned out to be a learning experience, Sacquety said. He said he knew he was in the operation group ADRIAN but didn't know about the BARDSEA group. He said there is not much history available on the groups possibly because of the confusion surrounding it, "a Polish speaking group formed to jump into occupied France to work with Polish expatriates in the (coal) mines," Sacquety said in one breath.

Sacquety found himself researching a lot of information with help from other researchers, including one in Britain.

He said any historical research project is a lot of work, "especially if you're doing it right." The problem with history today is people's access to Internet sites such as Wikipedia, where unsubstantiated stories may be passed off as factual historical text.

At some point, he said, the research involved in his journal stories can get tedious, but its a sacred part of his job and profession as a U.S. Army Special Operations Command historian.

Skokoski Sr.'s family was gracious to Sacquety as he researched and asked them follow-up questions.

"That's what makes my job a lot easier. It makes the story come to life," Sacquety said of involving veterans and their families in interviews. "I'm the author, but this is not my story."

History pieces such as Skokoski Sr.'s require a lot of time researching and while juggling research on his story, Sacquety was working on five to seven others, which accounts for the time between the interview and publication.

It's engaging work, too. Sacquety said although modern special operations can trace to World War I, it was in World War II where the military started doing a lot of the special projects like the ones Skokoski Sr. was involved in.

What was interesting about Frank's story was he was a member of three "fairly obscure" projects and for historians, their curiosity peaks. The OSS, he said, disbanded in 1945 and although remnants of it survived and went through name changes, eventually the OSS became the CIA through the National Security Act in 1947.

Ten years after the CIA formation, Skokoski Sr. was stateside marrying his wife, Marie, and starting his family.

Skokoski Jr., remembered his father as a peaceful, kind man who imparted his love and wisdom of nature and animals to his children, along with a great love for classical literature and music.

Although he never went to college himself, he insisted his children attend. Skokoski Sr. worked at the Standard-Speaker beginning in 1964 and retired in 1989 from the circulation department, his son said.

He died in October 2013 from heart failure and although he never saw the finished article, Skokoski Jr. said that's probably the way he would want it. At the time of his death, at 89, the only real time he talked about his service at length, was to Sacquety.

"That's the kind of thing that makes the job worthwhile, telling the story. One of the purposes of being an historian is telling the stories that were never told," Sacquety said. "Frank's story was a perfect example" of that, he said.

His family may have never known he was in these units, as he was so humble that he felt uncomfortable talking about it for years. Sacquety said because of that he imagines the Skokoski's neighbors probably had no idea about what he did in World War II either.

In a way, Skokoski Jr. believed his father would be unsettled by reading the story and reliving the events. He said he didn't think his dad was ever proud of what he had to do.

His grandson, Charlie DeCosmo, agreed, stating that as an elementary school student he tried to get his grandfather to talk about it, to no avail.

Upon reading the story, DeCosmo said he got goosebumps, because of the activity he was involved in. Today, DeCosmo said, he believes his grandfather is glad that the family knows.

"It's really amazing," Skokoski Jr. said.

OVERLOOK - You couldn't hear yourself talk at times Sunday night at Ralpho Fire Company as players, coaches and parents from Southern Columbia's very successful soccer program joined in the nationwide jubilation of the U.S. women's soccer team capturing its third World Cup championship with a resounding 5-2 victory over Japan in Vancouver, Canada.

The social hall was already rocking before the game, but when the Americans jumped out to a recording-breaking start that included two goals in the first six minutes by midfielder Carli Lloyd, the joint went crazy. After Lauren Holiday scored and Lloyd tallied a hat trick to give the U.S. a 4-0 lead in the first half, the party continued at a fever pitch while the Japanese women looked stunned on the big screen television.

High fives, screams and noise makers were part of the thunderous ovation throughout the game given by approximately 30 girls from the varsity, junior varsity and junior high soccer teams. Some chips and other food items even went flying at times due to the excitement generated by the U.S. team that has inspired a country and fittingly won another title on the patriotic Fourth of July weekend.

Uniting a nation

Assistant varsity coaches Jen Stine and Erin (Snyder) Spotts organized the party for the girls and were just as excited about the big game as their players. Jen's father and head varsity soccer coach Derek Stine also was in attendance enjoying the magical ride the U.S. women's squad has given its fans while making the sport of soccer even more popular in America.

"All the girls are really excited about the World Cup," Jen Stine said. "The World Series and Super Bowl are great, but this is a true world championship game. It has united a nation. The U.S. team plays with such tenacity and grit. They leave everything on the field."

Stine's two favorite players are defender Ali Krieger and Lloyd.

Stine and her father attended a U.S. game in Winnipeg during group play in the tournament. Stine, her sister, Mandy Stine, Spotts, former Southern Columbia soccer great Bailey Bzdak and Dana (Rowe) Sweeney attended the Americans' 2-0 shutout over Germany in the semifinal match in Montreal.

"Being there in person was just amazing," Stine said. "It was an unbelievable experience and the environment was ridiculous. You were on your feet the entire time. It felt like you were in the United States."

Incredible

Sami Jankowski, who will be a junior in the fall and played as a freshman on Southern's 2013 PIAA Class A runner-up soccer squad, attended the Americans' quarterfinal victory over China in Ottawa.

Jankowski, who idolizes Lloyd because she plays the same position, said, "It was an incredible experience seeing the best of the best play in person. The team has received great support and I'm hoping watching them improves my game and the play of my teammates. The U.S. team has been a great inspiration to all of us and hopefully that will carry over into our next season."

As for the great start in the championship game, Jankowski said, "You couldn't ask for a better start. The U.S. team had their mind set to win right from the beginning of the game and they didn't let up."

Morgan Marks, a forward on the junior high soccer team who will be entering eighth grade, said, "They really believe in each other and I hope to be in their spot some day. This is crazy. It's just awesome to see them play."

Marks' favorite player is forward Abby Wambach.

Sami Palacz, who will be in 9th grade in the fall and plays defense said, "I really want them to win. They've inspired us and an entire country and deserve the championship. Watching them will hopefully make us all better. They really love the game and so do we."

Palacz's favorite player is center defender Julie Johnston.

SHAMOKIN - Corinne Betzko spent three years working for Empire Beauty School, including recruiting new students in the Baltimore area.

In her new job as director of the Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, it won't be her experiences from a metropolis, however, that will guide her. Instead, she'll draw from her time growing up in the lower anthracite region and what she learned from the many small businesses connected to her family.

"Young people think the definition of success is to get out of here," she said. "I definitely found out that's not the case at all. Everything I need is here."

Betzko, 36, of Mount Carmel, was selected from about a half-dozen strong candidates, chamber board President Steve Minker said, and began duties June 22. She replaces Whitney Fetterman, who was director for about two years before moving on to a new job.

Betzko's working 28 hours a week in what is technically a part-time role, but she points out she'll have office hours Monday through Friday and is intent on keeping the chamber strong.

Raising a family

It was having her own child, now 20-month-old Elizabeth Grace, with boyfriend Martin Olszewskie that brought Betzko back to her hometown.

"I wanted to raise a family here," she said. "Having family and friends really is the biggest thing; knowing your neighborhood. 'It takes a village to raise a child,'" she said, borrowing the title of a book written by Hillary Clinton.

In fact, while she had only one year of Catholic schooling - eighth grade at Holy Spirit in Mount Carmel - Betzko wants Elizabeth to attend Lourdes Regional. Betzko's mother and father, Lisa Catino and the late Ed Betzko, are both Lourdes graduates.

Betzko said she didn't start college until age 25, earning an associate's degree in social sciences at Luzerne County Community College. She's a "huge advocate" of LCCC, thankful for the guidance even as an older student.

"Once I gained some confidence, I just took charge of everything and ran with it," she said.

Working for Empire, first at its Pottsville headquarters, Betzko did a lot of "cold recruitment" of students, experience that should serve her well in trying to grow the chamber. She said one of her first successful Empire recruitments occurred through repeated visits to a Taco Bell where she befriended a drive-thru worker.

"If I have an opportunity to meet people, talk to them, I do," she said, noting her preference for shaking hands rather than merely speaking on the phone.

Betzko's education and work experiences were important to the chamber board, Minker said.

"I think Corinne will do a fantastic job," he said. "It's only the second week and already things are going in the right direction."

Family of entrepreneurs

Being back with family is important for Betzko in raising her daughter, but family in her world also means business. Her mother once operated a beauty salon in Kulpmont; her aunt had a craft store in Mount Carmel, and her uncle and aunt Art and Marie Catino have the popular candy and soupie and wine shops in downtown Mount Carmel today. Before the soupie and wine, Art Catino's father and uncle operated the popular Little Bear Market.

"I came from a family of entrepreneurs - and none of them left (the area) to do it," she said.

She believes it's these small businesses that form the basis of local pride. They offer something that can't be generated through online shopping or through the "big box" retailers: customer service.

"You get customer service, literally, from your neighbor," she said. "That goes so far."

Ready to work

She acknowledges her hometown and the region have "definitely changed" and face challenges, but Betzko hopes through the chamber to restore pride and stress the importance of a commitment to one another, including by shopping locally.

"We need to give each other business. We need to support each other," she said.

From her family business experiences to her own experiment in the "big city," Betzko believes she's gathered the knowledge to help local businesses, noting that, as chamber director, "I work for them."

"I want to shake everyone's hand and see what I can do for them," she said.

SHAMOKIN - After eight years, the Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce is back on its own.

The chamber in 2007 formed an affiliation with Central Susquehanna Opportunities (CSO) to operate under its banner and with access to its facilities and equipment in the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center.

It filled an important need and the chamber is thankful for the positive relationship during those years, but has taken the opportunity to be back on its own, said board President Steve Minker.

"It allows us to be an independent entity with our own director fully hired by us," he said, recognizing the change comes in conjunction with the hiring of new director Corinne Betzko. "Our years with CSO - we can't thank them enough. But we felt we can go on our own, be self-sustaining and it will still work."

Minker, who had to step away for one year after serving two four-year terms on the chamber board, came back and has been president for eight months.

"I'm blessed with an executive board and a full board that is very involved, very gung-ho," he said.

The chamber continues to operate in the career and arts center, having moved down to the second floor in Room 203.

- Andy Heintzelman

Twin pastor to bless twins

MOUNT CARMEL - In commemoration of the feast day of Saint Benedict, twin brother of Saint Scholastica, the Rev. Martin Moran, pastor of Divine Redeemer Church and twin brother of Marcia Moran, will impart a special blessing for twins at the 10:30 a.m. Mass Sunday,

All are welcome to participate and celebrate in this unique gathering.

Kids night to benefit cancer fund

BLOOMSBURG - The ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund at Geisinger Medical Center is hosting a kids night at Bloom Bounce in the Columbia Mall Tuesday and Wednesday. Fifty percent of all sales from the two evenings will be donated to the ThinkBIG fund, which financially helps families who have a child undergoing treatment at the Janet Weis Children's Hospital.

PARKER - Rosalie Parker, 75, of 1660 W. Chestnut St., Coal Township. A religious funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at James Kelley Funeral Home, 1001 W. Arch St. at Maple Street, Coal Township, with Deacon Robert P. Mack officiating. Family and friends are invited to call at the visitation from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. Interment of Rosalie and Jack's cremains will follow the service in All Saints Cemetery, Bear Gap. As an expression of sympathy, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (www.pspca.org), 350 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, 19134.

SKOVRINSKIE - Michael J. Skovrinskie, 63, of Camp Hill. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at Parthemore Funeral Home, New Cumberland. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Theresa Catholic Church, New Cumberland. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 897, Hershey, 17033. For more information or to send messages of condolence, go to www.parthemore.com.

PAXINOS - After the success of last year's event, The Indian Hills Golf Club (IHGC) will present two more "Concert on the Hills" at their restaurant and bar.

"When we had the first concert last year, featuring 'The B Street Band,' we sold out of tickets," said IHGC golf pro Don Spieller. "This year, we have two more concerts that features some of the greatest music ever."

The first concert will take place Saturday, July 18, featuring the music of "Todd O's River of Dreams" a Billy Joel tribute band hailing from the Philadelphia area.

The leader of the band, jazz-rock musician Todd Omohundro, has performed more than 5,000 times in the Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware areas, and sang with such acts as Chicago, Pink and The Philadelphia. He has also worked on the film "Law Abiding Citizen" with Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx.

"We don't want anyone to miss out on this opportunity," Spieller said. "We are only selling 250 tickets for this show."

Tickets are $20, the bar will be open and food will be available for purchase. They are available by calling the pro shop at 570-644-1972 and giving a credit card number over the phone, or sending the information by email to ihgcproshop@aol.com. Tickets can either be mailed out or picked up at the pro shop before the concert.

A limited number of tickets will be available the day of the show. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the concert starts at 8 p.m.

BritishMania

Tickets are also on sale now for Indian Hills' second concert "BritishMania," a nationally touring Beatles tribute band that uses period costumes and instruments and has performed like the Beatles at the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool, England.

"BritishMania" will be performing at Indian Hills Friday, Oct. 30. Tickets for that show are $29 each.

SUNBURY - SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority plans to award a contract to a railroad operator for its 200-mile system, and it won't be the Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad.

The entities are embroiled in a lawsuit in which the rail line alleges the bidding process was tainted.

The authority, however, was victorious Monday when a Northumberland County judge tossed the rail line's petition for an emergency injunction.

The injunction sought to bar the authority from choosing a railroad operator until the lawsuit was settled. The rail line holds that its bid was dismissed illegally and accuses administrators of intentionally violating public meeting laws to sway board members' votes.

In its successful motion to quash, the authority focused solely on the injunction petition itself rather than the rail line's core allegations that will be addressed at a later date. Its motion said the injunction petition was improperly served and would have allowed no time for the authority to prepare for a scuttled hearing that had been scheduled for Monday.

Judge Charles H. Saylor agreed and granted the authority's motion to quash. The ruling follows a telephone conference between the parties and the judge last week.

Court filings indicate the authority will meet Wednesday to choose among three finalists for the operator contract: Carload Express, North Shore and Stonepeak. North Shore is the current operator. The contract expires in 2017, according to court filings.

Oral arguments in the lawsuit are scheduled for Aug. 5.

ELYSBURG - The following memorials were received at the Ralpho Township Public Library from Jan. 1 to June 30:

Birthday memorial

In honor of Daniel Bamford by Terrie Bamford.

In memory of

Julius Arden by Barbara Thompson.

George Broscious by Jim and Merry Scandle.

Francis P. "Pete" Broscious by Jim and Merry Scandle.

John Thomas Chiavoroli by Diane and Bob Ambrose.

Alyssa Clark by Rose and Ken Murdock.

Alvin R. Cook by Richard and Janet Spotts, Mick and Susie Fleming.

John P. DelVecchio by Robert George Reed II, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Gregg Reed, Richard and Jeanne Higgins, Jennifer Fry, Judy and Ed Gappa, Carol and Ted Reed.

James Finney by Burch Drug Store.

Hazel Fleming by Louise and Howard Howal.

Carolyn Giacomini by Jeane, Vic, Dave and Dick.

Dr. Timothy Glennon by Diane and Bob Ambrose.

Helen Hynoski by Ralpho Township supervisors.

Irvin "Gary" Kehler by Mark, Glenna and Nate Crowl.

Lucy Kemper by Eddie and Judy Gappa.

Barry Lee Kremser by Dianne and Bob Ambrose.

Mary L. Libbey by Carol Bebenek.

James Maurer by Beryl and Lamar Richie, Leon and Alice Pensyl, Nancy Booth.

Jip Menapace by Len and Connie Shulski.

Rudy J. Persing by Christina Jansen Stadnicki (The Wedding Shoppe), Mary Ann and Bob Levins, Tom and Mary Harmon, Joe, John and Maria Bressi, Sharon and Jay Leisenring, Bob and Sharon Reed, Judy and Ed Gappa, Ralpho Fish and Game Association.

Christine K. Richardson by Diane and Bob Ambrose.

Eleanor Shulskie by Len and Connie Shulski.

Jack Snyder by Rose and Ken Murdock.

Francis P. "Pete" Sobotor by Jim and Merry Scandle.

Gary G. Swank by Mark, Glenna and Nate Crowl, Len and Connie Shulski, Burch Drug Store.

Lawrence J. Thomas Sr. by Burch Drug Store.

Shirley Vacca by Reynold and Dolores Elliott.

Al Varano by Barbara Thompson.

Dan Willis by Burch Drug Store.

Guy and Mae Yocum by Mary Jane Wolf.